When I think dates, I think “date squares.” My memory is hazy but I think my mother or grandmother used to make date squares for us when we were children.
That’s about as familiar I am with using dates in cooking/baking. I started using dates in my smoothies (instead of agave) for the sweetness. (Once I made raw peanut butter cookies using dates and they were amazing. If I enjoyed baking I would definitely make them as part of my usual rotation.) Dates are high in natural sugar so why not use them as opposed to refined gunk?
ANYWAY … I was staring down a container of dates thinking … what should I do with these beauties? I looked in the freezer… yes! I had frozen bananas. Time for “nice cream.” It’s been a long time since I made date sauce or syrup (whatever you call it). It’s so easy to make that I don’t know why I don’t make it more often.
Think soft, chewy and caramel-like. YUM! This syrup is so addictive and so tasty. Last week I brought some into work for my coworkers. One said it was too sweet for her. I agreed that it was on the sweet side so the next time I made it I added more water and lemon to reduce the sweetness. I find if you mix it with frozen bananas or other fruit it is just right. It’s also not bad as a dip for apples.
Medjool Dates are supposedly the best dates EVER. I find them too expensive so I generally buy Degelet Nour, which are pretty much the same thing but smaller and cheaper. (Yes I know they are not the same thing but you know what I mean.)
Why you should eat dates:
- Packed with nutrients. They are high in fiber and antioxidants. Most people are worried about protein intake when they should be more concerned about getting enough fiber.
- Excellent natural sweetener. Time to ditch the gross refined white sugar.
- 1 cup dates
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Throw all your ingredients in your high speed blender
- Blend away until smooth
- Add more or less water depending on how thick you want the sauce/syrup
- This can be very sweet so you can add more lemon to reduce the sweetness. For an added kick, you can add some hot pepper flakes.